that there was one Plutarch that would eat his chil-young men shall go hooded, and look abroad little. It dren as soon as they were born;" as the poets speak is a strange thing, that in sea voyages, where there of Saturn: and, as the contumely is greater towards is nothing to be seen but sky and sea, men should God, so the danger is greater towards men. Atheism make diaries; but in land travel, wherein so much leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural piety, is to be observed, for the most part they omit it; as to laws, to reputation: all which may be guides to if chance were fitter to be registered than observaan outward moral virtue, though religion were not; tion: let diaries, therefore, be brought in use. The but superstition dismounts all these, and erecteth an things to be seen and observed are, the courts of absolute monarchy in the minds of men: therefore princes, especially when they give audience to amatheism did never perturb states; for it makes men bassadors; the courts of justice, while they sit and wary of themselves, as looking no further, and we hear causes; and so of consistories ecclesiastic; the see the times inclined to atheism (as the time of churches and monasteries, with the monuments Augustus Cæsar) were civil times; but superstition which are therein extant; the walls and fortifications hath been the confusion of many states, and bringeth of cities and towns; and so the havens and harbors, in a new "primum mobile," that ravisheth all the antiquities and ruins, libraries, colleges, disputations, spheres of government. The master of superstition and lectures, where any are; shipping and navies; is the people, and in all superstition wise men follow houses and gardens of state and pleasure, near great fools and arguments are fitted to practice in a re- cities; armories, arsenals, magazines, exchanges, versed order. It was gravely said by some of the burses, warehouses, exercises of horsemanship, fenc prelates in the Council of Trent, where the doctrine ing, training of soldiers, and the like: comedies, such of the schoolmen bare great sway, that the schoolmen whereunto the better sort of persons do resort; treawere like astronomers, which did feign eccentrics suries of jewels and robes; cabinets and rarities; and, and epicycles, and such engines of orbs to save the to conclude, whatsoever is memorable in the places phenomena, though they knew there were no such where they go; after all which the tutors or servants things; and, in like manner, that the schoolmen had ought to make diligent inquiry. As for triumphs, framed a number of subtle and intricate axioms and masks, feasts, weddings, funerals, capital executions, theorems, to save the practice of the Church. The and such shows, mon need not be put in mind of causes of superstition are, pleasing and sensual rites them: yet are they not to be neglected. If you will and ceremonies; excess of outward and pharisaical have a young man to put his travel into a little room, holiness; overgreat reverence of traditions, which and in short time to gather much, this you must do: cannot but load the Church; the stratagems of pre- first, as was said, he must have some entrance into lates for their own ambition and lucre; the favoring the language before he goeth; then he must have too much of good intentions, which openeth the gate such a servant, or tutor, as knoweth the country, as to conceits and novelties; the taking an aim at was likewise said: let him carry with him also some divine matters by human, which cannot but breed card, or book, describing the country where he mixture of imaginations; and, lastly, barbarous travelleth, which will be a good key to his inquiry; times, especially joined with calamities and disasters. let him keep also a diary; let him not stay long in Superstition, without a veil, is a deformed thing; for one city or town, more or less as the place deserveth as it addeth deformity to an ape to be so like a man, but not long; nay, when he stayeth in one city of so the similitude of superstition to religion makes town, let him change his lodging from one end and it the more deformed: and as wholesome meat cor- part of the town to another, which is a great ada rupteth to little worms, so good forms and orders mant of acquaintance; let him sequester himself corrupt into a number of petty observances. There from the company of his countrymen, and diet in is a superstition in avoiding superstition, when men such places where there is good company of the nathink to do best if they go furthest from the super- tion where he travelleth: let him, upon his removes :stition formerly received; therefore care would be from one place to another, procure recommendation had that (as it fareth in ill purgings) the good be not to some person of quality residing in the place taken away with the bad, which commonly is done whither he removeth, that he may use his favor in when the people is the reformer. those things he desireth to see or know; thus he may abridge his travel with much profit. As for the aequaintance which is to be sought in travel, that which is most of all profitable, is acquaintance with the secretaries and employed men of ambassadors; for so in travelling in one country he shall suck the experience of many let him also see and visit eminent persons in all kinds, which are of great name abroad, that he may be able to tell how the life agreeth with the fame; for quarrels, they are with care and discretion to be avoided; they are commonly for mistresses, healths, place, and words; and let a man beware how he keepeth company with choleric and quarrelsome persons; for they will engage him into their own quarrels. When a traveller returneth home, let him not leave the countries where he hath travelled altogether behind him, but maintain a correspondence by letters with those of his acquaintance which are of most worth; and let his travel app rather in his discourse than in his apparel or gestur and in his discourse let him be rather advised in h answers, than forward to tell stories: and let it ap

XVIII.-OF TRAVEL.

TRAVEL, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience. He that travelleth into a country, before he hath some entrance into the language, goeth to school, and not to travel. That young men travel under some tutor or grave servant, I allow well; so that he be such a one that hath the language, and hath been in the country before; whereby he may be able to tell them what things are worthy to be seen in the country where they go, what acquaintances they are to seek, what exercises or discipline the place yielded; for else

b Time was personified in Saturn, and by this story was meant its tendency to destroy whatever it has brought

into existence.

The primary motive power.

d This Council commenced in 1545, and lasted eighteen years. It was convened for the purpose of opposing the rising spirit of Protestantism, and of discussing and settling the disputed points of the Catholic faith.

• Irregular or anomalous movements.

f An epicycle is a smaller circle, whose center is in the circumference of a greater one.

To account far.

|

a Synods, or councils.

b At the present day called “attaches."

He probably means the refusing to join on the occa sion of drinking healths when taking wine.

pear that he doth not change his country manners for those of foreign parts; but only prick in some flowers of that he hath learned abroad into the customs of his own country

XIX. OF EMPIRE.

difficulties in princes' business are many and great; but the greatest difficulty is often in their own mind. For it is common with princes (saith Tacitus) to will contradictories; "Sunt plerumque regum voluntates vehementes,et inter se contrariæ;" for it is the solecism of power to think to command the end, and yet not to endure the mean.

Kings have to deal with their neighbors, their wives, their children, their prelates or clergy, their nobles, their second nobles or gentlemen, their merchants, their commons, and their men of war; and from all these arise dangers, if care and circumspec+ tion be not used.

It is a miserable state of mind to have few things to desire, and many things to fear; and yet that commonly is the case of Kings, who being at the highest, want matter of desire, which makes their minds more languishing; and have many representations of First, for their neighbors, there can no general rule perils and shadows, which makes their minds the less be given (the occasions are so variable), save one clear; and this is one reason also of that effect which which ever holdeth; which is, that princes do keep the Scripture speaketh of, "That the king's heart is due sentinel, that none of their neighbors do overinscrutable: " for multitude of jealousies, and lack grow so (by increase of territory, by embracing of of some predominant desire, that should marshal trade, by approaches, or the like), as they become and put in order all the rest, maketh any man's more able to annoy them than they were; and this heart hard to find or sound. Hence it comes like- is generally the work of standing counsels to foresee wise, that princes many times make themselves de- and to hinder it. During that triumvirate of kings, sires, and set their hearts upon toys; sometimes upon King Henry the Eighth of England, Francis the First, a building; sometimes upon erecting of an order; King of France, and Charles the Fifth, Emperor, sometimes upon the advancing of a person; some- there was such a watch kept that none of the three times upon obtaining excellency in some art, or feat could win a palm of ground, but the other two would of the hand: as Nero for playing on the harp; Do-straightways balance it, either by confederation, or, mitian for certainty of the hand with the arrow; if need were, by a war; and would not in anywise Commodus for playing at fence; Caracalla for driv- take up peace at interest: and the like was done by ing chariots, and the like. This seemeth imcredible that league (which Guicciardini' saith was the secuunto those that know not the principle, that the mind rity of Italy), made between Ferdinando, King of of man is more cheered and refreshed by profiting in Naples, Lorenzius Medicis, and Ludovicus Sforza, small things than by standing at a stay in great. potentates, the one of Florence, the other of Milan. We see also that Kings that have been fortunate con- Neither is the opinion of some of the schoolmen to querors in their first years, it being not possible for be received, that a war cannot justly be made, but them to go forward infinitely, but that they must upon a precedent injury or provocation; for there is have some check or arrest in their fortunes, turn in no question, but a just fear of an imminent danger, their latter years to be superstitious and melancholy; though there be no blow given, is a lawful cause of a as did Alexander the Great, Dioclesian, and in our memory, Charles the Fifth, and others; for he that is used to go forward, and findeth a stop, falleth out of his own favor, and is not the thing he was.

e

war.

For their wives, there are cruel examples of them. Livia is infamed for the poisoning of her husband; Roxolana, Solyman's wife was the destruction of that renowned prince, Sultan Mustapha, and otherwise troubled his house and succession; Edward the Second of England's Queen" had the principal hand in the disposing and murder of her husband.

To speak now of the true temper of empire, it is a thing rare and hard to keep; for both temper and distemper consist of contraries; but it is one thing to mingle contraries, another to interchange them. The answer of Apollonius to Vespasian is full of excellent instruction. Vespasian asked him, What was Nero's overthrow?" he answered, " Nero could touch and tune the harp well; but in government For their children, the tragedies likewise of dansometimes he used to wind the pins too high, some-gers from them have been many; and generally the times to let them down too low." And certain it is, entering of fathers into suspicion of their children that nothing destroyeth authority so much as the un- hath been ever unfortunate. The destruction of equal and untimely interchange of power pressed too far, and relaxed too much.

This kind of danger is then to be feared chiefly when the wives have plots for the raising of their own children, or else that they be advoutresses."

This is true, that the wisdom of all these latter times in princes' affairs is rather fine deliveries, and shiftings of dangers and mischiefs, when they are near, than solid and grounded courses to keep them aloof: but this is but to try masteries with fortune; and let men beware how they neglect and suffer matter of trouble to be prepared. For no man can forThe bid the spark, nor tell whence it may come.

Something to create excitement.

"The heart of kings is unsearchable."-Prov. v. 3. • Commodus fought naked in public as a gladiator, and prided himself on his skill as a swordsman.

d Making a stop at, or dwelling too long upon. After a prosperous reign of twenty-one years, Dioclesian abdicated the throne, and retired to a private station. After having reigned thirty-five years, he abdicated the thrones of Spain and Germany, and passed the two last years of his life in retirement at St. Just, a convent in Estremadura.

"The desires of monarchs are generally impetuous and conflicting among themselves."

h He was especially the rival of the Emperor Charles the Fifth, and was one of the most distinguished sovereigns that ever ruled over France.

1 An eminent historian of Florence. His great work, which is here alluded to, is, "The History of Italy during his own Time," which is considered one of the most valuable productions of that age.

k Spoken badly of. Livia was said to have hastened the death of Augustus, to prepare the accession of her son Tiberius to the throne.

1 Solyman the Magnificent was one of the most celebrated of the Ottoman monarchs. He took the Isle of Rhodes from the Knights of St. John. He also subdued Moldavia, Wallachia, and the greatest part of Hungary, and took from the Persians, Georgia and Bagdad. He died A.D. 1566. His wife Roxolana (who was orginally a slave called Rosa or Hazathya), with the Pasha Rustan, conspired against the life of his son Mustapha, and by their instigation this distinguished prince was strangled in his father's presence.

m The infamous Isabella of Anjou.
n Adultresses.

Mustapha (that we named before) was so fatal to Solyman's line, as the succession of the Turks from Solyman's until this day is suspected to be untrue, and of strange blood; for that Selymus the Second was thought to be suppositious." The destruction of Crispus, a young prince of rare towardness, by Constantinus the Great, his father, was in like manner fatal to his house; for both Constantinus and Constance, his sons died violent deaths; and Constantinus, his other son, did little better, who died indeed of sickness, but after that Julianus had taken arms against him. The destruction of Demetrius, son to Philip the Second of Macedon, turned upon the father who died of repentance. and many like examples there are; but few or none where the fathers had good by such distrust, except it were where the sons were up in open arms against them; as was Selymus the First against Bajazet, and the three sons of Henry the Second, King of England.

For the men of war," it is a dangerous state where they live and remain in a body, and are used to dona tives whereof we see examples in the Janizaries and Prætorian bands of Rome; but training of men, and arming them in several places, and under several commanders, and without donatives, are things of defence, and no danger.

Princes are like to heavenly bodies, which cause good or evil times; and which have much veneration, but no rest. All precepts concerning Kings are in effect comprehended in those two remembrances, "Memento quod es homo;" and "Memento quod es Deus," or "vice Dei :" the one bridleth their power, and the other their will.

XX.-OF COUNSEL.

For their prelates, when they are proud and great, there is also danger from them; as it was in the times of Anselmus and Thomas Becket, Archbishops of Canterbury, who with their crosiers did almost try it with the King's sword; and yet they had to deal with stout and haughty Kings; William Rufus, Henry the First, and Henry the Second. The danger is not from that state, but where it hath a dependence of foreign authority; or where the church-greatness or derogation to their sufficiency to rely men come in and are elected, not by the collation of the King, or particular patrons, but by the people.

The greatest trust between man and man is the trust of giving counsel; for in other confidences men commit the parts of life, their lands, their goods, their children, their credit, some particular affair; but to such as they make their counsellors they commit the whole: by how much the more they are obliged to all faith and integrity. The wisest princes need not think it any diminution to their upon counsel. God himself is not without, but hath made it one of the great names of his blessed Son, "The Counsellor."a Solomon hath pronounced that, "In counsel is stability." "b Things will have their

For their nobles, to keep them at a distance is not amiss; but to depress them may make a King more absolute, but less safe, and less able to perform any-first or second agitation: if they be not tossed upon thing he desires. I have noted it in my History of King Henry the Seventh of England, who depressed his nobility, whereupon it came to pass that his times were full of difficulties and troubles; for the nobility, though they continued loyal unto him, yet did they not co-operate with him in his business so that in effect he was fain to do all things himself.

For their second nobles, there is not much danger from them, being a body dispersed: they may sometimes discourse high, but that doth little hurt: besides, they are a counterpoise to the higher nobility, that they grow not too potent; and, lastly, being the most immediate in authority with the common people, they do best temper popular commotions.

For their merchants, they are "vena porta ;" and if they flourish not, a kingdom may have good limbs, but will have empty veins, and nourish little. Taxes and imposts upon them do seldom good to the King's revenue, for that which he wins in the hundred, he loseth in the shire; the particular rates being increased, but the total bulk of trading rather decreased.

For their commons, there is little danger from them, except it be where they have great and potent heads; or where you meddle with the point of religion, or their customs or means of life.

n

He however distinguished himself by taking Cyprus from the Venetians in the year 1571. P.He was falsely accused by his brother Perseus of attempting to dethrone his father, on which he was put to death by the order of Philip, B. C. 180.

q Anselm was archbishop of Canterbury, in the time of William Rufus and Henry the First. Though his private life was pious and exemplary, through his rigid assertions of the rights of the clergy, he was continually embroiled with his sovereign. Thomas A. Becket pursued a similar conrse, but with still greater violence.

The great vessel that conveys the blood to the liver, after it has been enriched by the absorption of nutriment from the intestines.

This is an expression similar to our proverb, "Penny wise and pound-foolish.

A subdivision of the shire.

the arguments of counsel, they will be tossed upon waves of fortune; and be full of inconstancy, doing and undoing, like the reeling of a drunken man. Solomon's son found the force of counsel, as his father saw the necessity of it: for the beloved kingdom of God was first rent and broken by ill counsel; upon which counsel there are set for our instruction the two marks whereby bad counsel is forever best discerned, that it was young counsel for the persons, and violent counsel for the matter.

The ancient times do set forth in figure both the incorporation and inseparable conjunction of counsel with Kings, and the wise and politic use of counsel by Kings: the one in that they say Jupiter did marry Metis, which signifieth counsel; whereby they intend that sovereignty is married to counsel; the other, in that which followeth, which was thus: they say, after Jupiter was married to Metis, she conceived by him and was with child; but Jupiter suffered her not to stay till she brought forth, but eat her up: whereby he became himself, with child, and was delivered of Pallas armed, out of his head. Which monstrous fable containeth a secret of empire, how Kings are to make use of their counsel of state: that first they ought to refer matters unto them, which is the first begetting or impregnation; but when they are elaborate, molded and shaped in the

u Soldiers.

x The Janizaries were the body-guards of the Turkish sultans, and enacted the same disgraceful part in mak ing and unmaking monarchs, as the mercenary, Prætorian guards of the Roman empire.

y "Remember that thou art a man."
z "Remember that thou art a God."

a "The representative of God."

a Isaiah ix. 6: "His name shall be called Wonderful, Couusellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

b Prov. xx. 18: "Every purpose is established by counsei: and with good advice make war."

The wicked Rohoboam, fr om whom the ten tribes of Israel revolted and elected Jeroboam their king. See [ Kings xii.

womb of their council, and grow ripe and ready to fidem super terram," is meant of the nature of times,TM be brought forth, that then they suffer not their and not of all particular persons. There be that are council to go through with the resolution and direc-in nature faithful and sincere, and plain and direct, tion, as if it depended on them; but take the matter not crafty and involved: let princes, above all, draw back into their own hands, and make it appear to to themselves such natures. Besides, counsellors are the world, that the decrees Jand final directions not commonly so united, but that one counsellor (which, because they come forth with prudence and keepeth sentinel over another; so that if any do power, are resembled to Pallas armed), proceeded counsel out of faction or private ends, it commonly from themselves; and not only from their authority, comes to the King's ear: but the best remedy is, if but (the more to add reputation to themselves) from princes know their counsellors, as well as their countheir head and device. sellors know them:

.

a Packing the cards is an admirable illustration of the author's meaning. It is a cheating exploit, by which knaves, who perhaps are inferior players, insure to them selves the certainty of good hands.

b Send them both naked among strangers, and then you will see."

eThis word is used here in its primitive sense of “rets: dealers." It is said to have been derived from a custom, of the Flemings, who first settled in this country in the fourteenth century, stopping the passengers as they passed their shops, and saying to them, "Haber da wis-herr?" "Will you take this sir." The word is now generally used as synonymous with linen-draper. d To watch.